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Commissioner Ross questions Senior Commission—s concrete accomplishments; commission discusses accountability
Summary
Commissioner Ross criticized the Carlsbad Senior Commission for lacking visible, concrete accomplishments and asked for evidence of collective actions; staff and the chair responded by listing contributions and suggested incorporating accountability measures into future work plans.
Commissioner Ross raised concerns at the April 24 Carlsbad Senior Commission meeting about the commission—s record of accomplishments and asked for evidence of collective actions taken on behalf of seniors.
"What have we done as a committee that we can show evidence that we're doing something?" Commissioner Ross asked, saying that across four years he had not seen clear evidence of actions taken by the commission to address seniors— needs.
Chair Angus and staff responded that the commission has advised the City Council on the Age Friendly Carlsbad Action Plan and the Parks and Recreation master plan, and that several items the commission has advanced are in progress or have been incorporated into departmental work. "We have contributed to the age friendly plan, which was a very extensive plan that took months to develop and the city is implementing," the chair said.
Staff noted that the commission can include accountability measures in its annual or biannual work plans and suggested adding quantifiable event- or attendance-based goals, similar to practices on other commissions. Staff also said the forthcoming biannual report can include documented examples of the commission—s contributions, such as participation in master plan recommendations and the pickleball-court review previously advanced by the commission.
The exchange occurred during the agenda item for commission member commentary and requests for future agenda items; the meeting rules limit such non-agendized discussion and the chair and staff directed that more detailed follow-up be placed in a future biannual report so the commission could review documented evidence and consider adding measurable targets to upcoming work plans.
The meeting record shows no formal vote on this discussion; commissioners were encouraged to take individual initiative on volunteer activities and to consider adding implementation and accountability language to the next year's work plan.
